Investors studying the fundamentals might be conducting in-depth company research before deciding when to purchase a particular stock. The investor checklist may include studying the scope of a company’s competitive industry advantage, examining company management, and trying to get a general feel if the stock is valued properly. Once the decision is made that the company is a good fit for the portfolio, it may be wise to assess whether or not current conditions and price levels indicate proper levels for share purchase. The timing of purchasing a researched stock obviously comes with some level of trepidation. Investors will only know in the future whether they got in at the right price. A stock that looks very attractive today may not be as attractive in the future. Sometimes the investor will just have to trust their research and instinct when purchasing shares.

Investors tracking shares of iShares US Home Construction ETF (:ITB) will note that the stock has seen a change of 0.05683433% since the open. Shares recently finished the previous session at 35.21. The one month high for the stock is currently standing at 35.61.

Investors may be interested in the current Bull Bear Power reading on the stock which is currently at 0.98358965. Investors may also be looking at some historical volatility numbers. Volatility for the month is presently 2.1888053. Looking back for the previous week, volatility is 2.1101542.

Technical stock analysts are always using every possible piece of information to help make the best possible trades. A popular flexible indicator is the Ichimoku Cloud. This indicator can help portray the momentum and trend direction of a stock. Ichimoku signals can help the trader find possible entry and exit points. Checking on some recent indicator levels for iShares US Home Construction ETF (:ITB), we note that the Ichimoku Could Conversion Line level is 34.645, and the Ichimoku Cloud Base Line level is 34.195. Tracking some variations, the Ichimoku Lead 1 is presently 32.69, and the Lead 2 level is 30.96.

Switching the focus to the Awesome Oscillator, we see that the present reading is 1.158603. Traders may be watching this oscillator to help identify a change in momentum. The AO can be a useful tool when trying to understand certain price movements.

Traders often use pivot point indicators when conducting technical stock analysis. Pivot points are commonly used to help identify trends of various time periods. Let’s check on some different one month pivot points:

Traders may be keeping a close eye on shares of iShares US Home Construction ETF (:ITB). Looking at past price performance may help them gauge how the stock will react in the future. Keeping in mind the most recent close price of 35.21, we note that the stock has seen a move of 4.5886545 over the previous week. Looking back out over the last month, the stock has moved 8.220652. Over the past three months, the stock has seen a change of 12.904778. Investors may want to go back even further to see what has transpired over a longer period of time. Since the start of the calendar year, shares have changed 17.22703. Going back a full 52 weeks, the stock has seen a change of -13.582822 over that period of time.

Traders may be looking at some EMA levels on company shares. The exponential moving average can be very useful when applied correctly. They tend to work well when markets are trending. Here’s a look at some popular EMA levels:

50 day EMA: 33.548862100 day EMA: 32.930378 200 day EMA: 33.29171810 day EMA: 34.7999920 day EMA: 34.40066530 day EMA: 34.073925

From time to time, investors may need to decide when to sell a winner. This can be one of the tougher portfolio decisions to make. When a winning stock keeps rising, it can be tough to part with it. Investors may become hesitant to sell because they don’t want to miss out on greater profits in the future. Sometimes this strategy will work, and other times investors may be watching all previous gains evaporate. Being able to sell a winner can provide obvious profits, and it may even be a confidence booster for the average investor. On the flip side, investors may also be faced with the decision of when to sell a loser. Even the most researched trades can go sour. Being able to detach from the trade mentally can end up saving the investor more grief down the line. Holding onto a stock with the hopes of a giant turnaround can be a recipe for portfolio disaster. Being able to cut losses is just as much a part of the process as being able to cash in winners. Learning from mistakes and being able to wipe the slate clean can help the investor be better prepared for future endeavors in the markets.